H. Jose on ordnance documents, Portland, 1865

Jose, by this time returned to his business ventures in Portland, wrote about the issue in January 1865 to his friend Brig. Gen. Shepley, who had commanded the 12th Maine when Jose was quartermaster.

Shepley, now serving as commander of the Division of Eastern Virginia of the Union army, had received several notices that ordnance issued to the 12th Maine had not been accounted for in the fourth quarter reports of 1861.

Jose reported that he did not recall receiving invoices or giving receipts for the stores and that all the regiment's paperwork was destroyed by the Confederates at Bayou Boeuf.